The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-05-21
SENIOR CASTELAR,.
Pen Picture of the Famous Spanish Orator,
Publicist and Statesman.

PuDliclst ana statesman.
CASTELAR, is known throughout Eu-
rope as really the most complete eX-
preston of Spanish eloquence. He
carries his worship of form almost to
idolatry; his eloquence is music, his
liction the slave of his ear. He says
Or does not say thing; or rather, he
says it better in one sense than in an
other, according as it rounds or does
not round a period. He has a harmony
in his mind; he follows, obeys it, and
sarifces TO it all that ofends. His pc
RODS ale strophes; it is necessary to
hear in order to believe that human
language without poetic measure can
thus approach the harmony of poesy
and of song. He is more the artist
than the politician; he has not only the
genius but the heart of the artist-the
heart of a child, incapable of enmity
or of malice. In all his speeches there
is not to be found an abusive epithet;
in the Cortes he has never pro-
voked serious personal encoun-
ter; has never recourse to a satire,
nor ever makes use of irony,
into his most violent philippics he never
infuses a drop of gall; and this is evil
dence of the fact that Il Republican, an
opponent of every ministry, journal
istic gladiator, the perpetual accuser of
! w Sfn hn1 f- nd of oil N
are not fanatical for liberty, he has
made himself hated by no one. And
with all this, his speeches are enjoyed
and never feared; his language is too
beautiful to be terrible, his character
too ingenious for him to exercise a po-
litical influence. He does not know
how to fence, to plot, to trim his sails
he is fitted only to please and to shine.
His elOquence when greatest is tender;
his most beautiful discOurses draw
tears. For him the chamber is the
ater; like political implOvisator in
order TO have full and calm inspira-
ton, he must speak at certain hour,
upon determined point and with an
allotted time of liberty to himself. For
this reason, the day on which he is to
speak he has an understanding with
the president of the Chamber that his
turn will come when the galleries are
most crowded and all the deputies are
in their places, his own paper an
nouncing his speech the evening
previous, in order that ladies may
be able to provide themselves with
tickets. He has need of this excite.
ment. Before speaking he is uneasy
and can not remain still for an instant
He enters the Chamber, leaves it, re
enters, turns to go out, takes the round
of the corridors and library, where h,
turns over the leaves of volume-ir
a word, he is in fever of excitement
1t seems to him as if he could not ute
a syllable-that he must excite ridicult
and be Kissed. In his mind no lon9er
remains single lucid idea of hi
speech; every thing is confused; ever,
thing forgotten. How is your pulse!'
his friends inquire of him, with
; smile. The supreme moment arrived
he springs to the floor, with head bent
pale and trembling, like a crimina
!! about to be executed, resigned to los
in single nom ent the glory acquired
through so many years and with sucl
: interchangeable labor At this instan
an enemy even would compassionate
: his condition. He rises, throws Il rapi,
u glance around him and speaks" Sena
tors!" He is safe; his courage is re
u stored to him; his brains is again un
U clouded his speech rearrangGs itself i
his mind like long forgotten melody
The president, the COrtes, the gallerie
: disappear; he sees only his gestures
l. hears only his own voice; feels but tn
= irresistible flame that enkindles tn
l. force of his own matchless eloquence. ]
I is beautiful to hear him say Of himself
J II do not see the walls of the apar
$ ment, even. / behold distant land
J and peoples which l have never see
u before. lie speaks for hours together
s. and not n Deputy leaves the hall, not
L voice interrupts, not a movement di
s. tracts him. Not even when he violate
a Parliamentary rules has the presider
u the courage to interrupt him. Clad i
u robes of dazzling whiteness an
y crowned with roses, he portrays at wi
'e the image of the Republic; and MOI
lie archists do not venture to protest, TO
3 thus arrayed they even find her beaut
Is full. Castelar, is lord of the assembl,
OF He flashes and Eliminates, scintillat,
n and beams like fen d artifice; he pr
- vokes . smile or he calls forth enthus
pstic shouts, ending in the midst of q
outburst of applause, and vanishir
from the Chamber with his head in Il
10 clouds. Such is this famous Castela
n professor of history in the UniverSit
i, a most prolific writer on politits, a